Debbie Douglas, OCASI Executive Director appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration to make a presentation and answer questions about our submission on Bill C-6 - An Act to amend the Citizenship Act and to make consequential amendments to another Act.

November 17, 2015/Toronto – OCASI – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants strongly condemns the recent arson attack on the Kawartha Muslim Religious Association's Masjid Al-Salaam in Peterborough, and the vandalism at the Ram Dham Hindu Temple in Kitchener.

The Council is concerned by these attacks as well as other escalating expressions of Islamaphobia, racism and xenophobia, which in our present reality are primarily targeting Muslims, and Canadian residents of Arab and South Asian background.

October 28, 2015/Toronto - As the newly elected government of Canada is set to be sworn into office, OCASI is encouraged by the Prime Minister Designate's leadership in countering a growing divisiveness and xenophobia through an expression of unity and appreciation of diversity in Canada. We look forward to the full realization of that message through strong public policy measures, including public education initiatives that will build equitable opportunities for all Canadian residents.

Amendments to the Citizenship Act became law on June 19, 2014. The resulting changes were brought into effect at various points starting in June 2014, and continued to January 2015. The remaining changes will come into force on June 11, 2015.

The federal government is increasing citizenship processing fees by $230 for applications received after January 1, 2015 – an increase of more than 40%. The Right of Citizenship fee is to remain unchanged at $100.

With the increase, the new citizenship application fees will be a total of $630.

The Bill was introduced by the federal government on February 6, 2014. The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration has said that Bill is meant to reduce citizenship fraud, increase efficiency of the system and reduce backlogs.

OCASI has prepared a preliminary analysis of Bill C-24, the Citizenship amendment Act tabled in the House of Commons on Thursday February 6, 2014. We will develop a fuller analysis as we continue to review the Bill and prepare for public comment opportunities through the Parliamentary Standing Committee later in the year.

The government has already doubled the citizenship application fees from $200 to $400. The change is already in effect and will remain so regardless of what happens to Bill C-24.